South Africa|Safaris in South Africa
Hermanus, Cape Town & Madikwe Safari
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Fast Facts
Travelling to:
Hermanus, Cape Town and Madikwe Game Reserve
duration:
13 Days - 12 Nights
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A trip to Cape Town and Hermanus is a bucketlist experience in itself, add on a safari in the Madikwe Game Reserve just tops it off nicely.
Ideally this trip should be experienced from July to November when the whales are in the Atlantic ocean along the coast line of Hermanus. September is our favourite time as the whales are often calving at this time and there is a hive of activity in the sea. September is also a good time for safari as it is dry in the north and the game in the Madikwe Game Reserve gather around the waterholes.
Highlights
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Cape Town
Cape Town is one of the world’s most beautiful cities and a top international destination. Large numbers of tourists flock to this unique city with its fascinating history, interesting culture, natural beauty, award winning wines and laidback lifestyle.
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Madikwe Game Reserve
The Madikwe Game Reserve is the newest of South Africa’s prime safari destinations. A public-private partnership resulted in the creation of this Big Five game reserve on almost worthless cattle farms and today it is home to 66 mammal species.
Outline Itinerary
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Day 1 - Travelling
Take flight overnight flight to Cape Town.
Days 2-3 - Hermanus
Staying at: Harbour House Hotel
After collecting your luggage and clearing immigration, you will be met in the arrivals hall and shown to the car hire depot. Make your way to Hermanus, just about an hour and 30 minutes from Cape Town Airport.
On your free day in Hermanus we highly recommend a boat trip out with Marine Dynamics. If the whales are in the bay, they will find them - the experience is terrific! When viewing whales from the boat you realise the enormity of these magnificent creatures and how silently they can appear as they sometimes approach the boat. Whale watching in Hermanus is also very good from the shoreline and during the peak season the Whale Cryer will blow his horn indicating that there are whales nearby. Consider yourself an expert photographer if you are able to secure a photo of a whale breaching from the sea!
Day 4-8 - Cape Town
Staying at: Table Bay Hotel
Leaving Hermanus behind today make your way to Cape Town and check in to your hotel situated on the vibrant V&A Waterfront. The are lots of amazing places to visit from Cape Town; Table Mountain (take the cable car up as soon as you can because the table cloth of cloud can come down at any time and make a visit not possible), Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned, Cape Point Nature Reserve, Boulders Beach to see the penguins and Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden where summer concerts often happen. These are just a few of our favourites and there are many more to choose from.
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Days 9-11 - Madikwe Game Reserve
Staying at: Tuningi Safari Lodge
After breakfast, return your hire car to Cape Town Airport and take the flight to Johannesburg. After collecting your luggage you will be transferred by road to the Madikwe Game Reserve. The drive from Johannesburg Airport to the Madikwe Game Reserve will take around 4-5 hours so if you'd prefer to fly this is also an option. The Madikwe Game Reserve offers malaria free option for safaris and it is an amazing place to spot great game such as lion, elephant, giraffe, the elusive leopard if you are very lucky and packs of wild dog would be a real treat. The wildlife gathers around the various waterholes and sometimes conflict occurs, we've seen a big bull elephant seeing off a lion at the waterhole - very exciting viewing as they bound around your vehicle! The birdlife is prolific in the Madikwe Game Reserve and it wouldn't be unusual for you to see lilac breasted rollers, yellow hornbills (in great numbers), fish eagles and if you are very lucky a secretary bird.
Day 12 - Departure
After your final game drive and breakfast you will be transferred to Johannesburg Airport for your flight back to the UK.
A selection of where you'll stay during this Safari